Trees Across America - Help the Urban Forest

In response to the devastating urban wildfires in Southern California, Earth Day Network is teaming up with Home Depot, Tree People, and the Student Conservation Association to help community replanting efforts over the coming months. You can help our efforts by donating to this campaign or by volunteering.

Surveys indicate that urban forests are in serious danger in certain areas. In the past 30 years alone, we have lost 30% of all our urban trees - a loss of over 600 million trees. 1 tree for every American symbolizes a unified effort of all of our citizens to combat urban deforestation in and near America's cities.

Says Earth Day Network "Trees are a source of life, and they provide a delicate balance to our ecosystem. Trees remove air pollution, filter out chemicals and agricultural waste in water, and they save communities across the country millions of dollars in stormwater management costs. Trees also help to improve community health by removing air and water pollution that can make you sick. Trees can reduce energy costs for heating and cooling homes. Plus trees even add value to your property!"

Pollution, urban sprawl, improper care and poor management threatens our trees. In recent years urban sprawl has been the biggest threat. Expanding cities and suburbs, forests shrink. That also means all of the benefits of those trees are lost.

There are two main targets.
The first target is urban areas. Urban areas have taken the hardest hit in losing tree cover, not to mention that health and environmental issues are greatest in urban areas, where 80% of our population lives.
Other targets include critical watersheds - most notably the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Valley, Puget Sound, the Mississippi River basin, and the Great Lakes.

Earth Day Network will host a series of promotional events over the next 5 years in cities across the country. Earth Day Network will also offer grants to community groups who demonstrate that they are willing and able to get involved in the campaign.

Plant a tree! Most local nurseries and lawn and garden stores sell trees or saplings that are pretty inexpensive. Let us know how many trees you plant, and we'll add it to our total!
If there isn't enough room in your backyard or along the street to plant a tree, get involved with a local tree planting group. Contact your local parks and recreation office to see how you can get involved.
Also contact Earth Day Network and work directly with the Trees Across America Program.

Currently, the best place to check for free trees is to get in touch with your state forestry group. They often provide free trees to local and community organizations, and they may also have advice for helping you with your project.

To volunteer, send your contact information to outreach@treepeople.org and someone will get in touch with you shortly. To donate, contact the Earth Day Network.